Bengaluru, April 10 -- Forest Minister Khandre floats idea to check elephant, big cat population

In a surprising move, the Karnataka Government is considering the possibility of sterilising select wild animals as a measure to control their population and reduce human-wildlife conflict.

Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre spoke about the idea while addressing the media on Wednesday, following the death of a coffee planter who was trampled by a wild elephant at Srimangala in Kodagu.

The Minister said incidents of man-animal conflict have been on the rise in villages bordering forests across the State, including areas around Nagarahole, Bandipur and Bhadra. These conflicts have led to the loss of human lives and livest...